Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
'It's overwhelming': Victims of B.C.'s atmospheric river mourned

'It's overwhelming': Victims of B.C.'s atmospheric river mourned

CBC
Thursday, October 24, 2024 3:42 AM GMT

Ken Duncan was familiar with the extremes of B.C. weather.

Born and raised in the Alberni Valley, a region surrounding the Alberni Inlet on Vancouver Island, the 52-year-old was a "west coaster through and through," his family says in an online obituary.

He "did not take unnecessary risks," said cousin Tyler Thompson in an interview with CBC News. He was familiar with the dangers of heavy rain and "turned around more than once" when faced with adverse weather conditions on the road.

But on Oct. 19, as an atmospheric river weather system brought torrential rain to much of southern B.C., Duncan and his vehicle were swept into the Sarita River, where he died.

He was one of at least three victims of extreme weather that battered the province over the weekend, with an atmospheric weather system bringing more than 250 millimetres of rain between Friday and Saturday, setting several records and devastating affected communities.

A second motorist — Bob Baden — was also swept into the Sarita River along the same stretch of road.

Also dead, school teacher Sonya McIntyre of Coquitlam, east of Vancouver, who was killed when her house was swept away by a mudslide brought on by the weekend's storm.

Meanwhile, family is searching for Robert Belding, 59, who is believed to have fallen into the surging Coquitlam River trying to rescue a dog the following day. 

"We're pretty distraught," said Belding's daughter, Jessica, in an interview on her cellphone while she was out searching for her dad on Wednesday. "I think some of us are pretty numb because it just doesn't seem real. It's getting harder by the day."

Sade Leschuk, who McIntyre taught in elementary school, said she was shocked to learn her favourite teacher had been killed as rain swept through the community.

"She was the only teacher I'd ever accidentally called mom," she said. "We all just adored her … She was an amazing teacher to all of us and had a lasting impact on all of our students."

But the impact of the weekend's weather is perhaps being most profoundly felt in Bamfield, a community of about 200 people in the midst of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Huuy-ay-aht Nations land, surrounded by dense coastal forests and strong connections to the water.

Both Duncan and Baden were described as important contributors to the community, which is about 200 kilometres by road northwest of Victoria. As news of their deaths was shared, businesses closed to mourn.

"They're very tight-knit communities, very small populations in a remote area, and people living there learn to depend on each other," said Bob Beckett, a regional district director who knew both of the deceased.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Thousands go from jail to being homeless in Ontario every year, report finds

When Dan was released from the Toronto South Detention Centre last December after serving about 60 days, he was given a TTC token and sent on his way. He walked to a bus stop, but he had nowhere to go.

Canada needs agency to manage public UFO sightings, says new federal report

Canada needs a transparent, public-facing agency in charge of managing reports of mystifying things seen darting, blinking or hovering through our skies, according to a new report commissioned by Canada's top scientist.

Volunteer crews from across Sask. flock to Beauval to fight fires

Volunteer firefighters from across Saskatchewan have been working in Beauval and other communities in the province's north to help save them from ongoing wildfires.

'We've been looking for almost a year': Why Sask.'s housing market is red hot

It is a sellers market across Saskatchewan and first-time homebuyers say they are having a hard time making that milestone purchase, bidding on multiple homes that end up selling for more than the asking price. 

Virginia Park residents concerned about parking chaos during upcoming events

Residents who live in the neighbourhood of Virginia Park have plenty of experience having to compete for parking during major events and summer festivals. 

B.C. couple dodging dozens of calls about their missing cat — but their cat isn't missing

A B.C. couple is begging people to stop calling them. 

Hamiltonians call on Canada to speed up Palestinian family reunification

When Mahmoud Fares calls his family in Gaza, "I don't even have the guts to ask them, 'How are you doing?'" he says. "We know how they are doing. They're doing bad."

'Egregious': Inside legal fights over a Canadian EV battery plant getting $15B in tax breaks

Multiple Canadian contractors that have helped build a sprawling, taxpayer-supported electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in southwestern Ontario allege they haven't been paid for millions of dollars worth of work, court records show.

SIU clears Thunder Bay, Ont., police of wrongdoing in First Nation woman's death

WARNING: This story contains references to domestic violence and suicide.

7 people from Cambridge and Guelph arrested as part of 'multi-jurisdictional' drug investigation

Four men and three women from Guelph and Cambridge were arrested following a "'multi-jurisdictional" drug investigation. 

Problem tenants finally leave P.E.I. rental property, but landlord's issues continue

Thamara DeVries is finally beginning the process of reclaiming her dream home, after months of watching the property turn into a nightmare. 

Illicit drugs are getting into Yukon's only fly-in community. Officials say there's little they can do

The Yukon government says that stopping illicit drugs from reaching the remote, fly-in community of Old Crow is an urgent issue — but government and regulatory officials also say they have limited authority to do much about it. 

Girls' softball was an inclusive sport in Alberta. For this teen, a new law could end that

Riley Simpson has been playing softball since they were nine years old. They fell in love with the sport after watching their older sister play. 

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Ontario is adding 150 new jail beds. Experts say they aren't enough to address overcrowding

Ontario's solicitor general says the province is adding 150 beds to three jails across the province using modular construction — a "Band-Aid" solution, experts say, that doesn't do enough to address overcrowding. 

Bad news, commuters: the Eglinton Crosstown LRT may be delayed again

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT opening date may be delayed again.

Alaska tsunami warning had residents scrambling for high ground after 7.3 magnitude earthquake

Communities along a 1,126-kilometre stretch of Alaska's southern coast ordered residents to higher ground after a powerful offshore earthquake Wednesday, but officials quickly downgraded and then cancelled a tsunami warning for the region. There were no reports of significant damage.

Woman fatally stabbed in commercial parking lot, Toronto police say

A woman is dead after being found with stab wounds in a commercial parking lot in North York Thursday morning, Toronto police say. 

Summerside woman dies in 2-vehicle crash in Wellington Centre, P.E.I.

A 43-year-old woman from Summerside died after a two-vehicle collision on Route 2 in the Wellington Centre area of Prince County Wednesday afternoon.

Use of force is up with London police. Here's why they say that's the case

London police officers reported using force on the job 17 per cent more often last year compared to the year prior, according to an annual report shared with the London Police Service (LPS) Board on Wednesday afternoon.

Male dead after being found shot in Yorkdale mall parking lot Thursday: police

Toronto police are investigating a fatal shooting outside the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in North York Thursday morning. 

Alberta premier faces criticism, anger at Edmonton panel town hall

After receiving a warm welcome and widespread support just 24 hours earlier, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith faced a more vocally critical and frustrated crowd as she and her hand-picked panel members assembled in Edmonton for the second of a series of summer town halls.

Increased fire activity expected in N.L. as temperatures climb to 30 C

While Wednesday was a "good day" for fighting an out of control wildfire near Chance Harbour on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula, provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor says Thursday's conditions won't be as favourable.

Works starts on converting downtown Sudbury office building into apartments

Work has started to convert a commercial building in downtown Sudbury into an 83-unit apartment complex.

Halifax incident where navy sailor died happened after boat hit unlit buoy: documents

An inflatable navy boat that capsized in the Halifax harbour in January struck an unlit buoy, according to documents obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request.

Big emissions estimate a worst-case scenario, gas plant builder says

The U.S. company hired to build a natural gas plant in southeast New Brunswick says an annual greenhouse gas emissions estimate of 900,000 tonnes per year is a worst-case scenario that is unlikely to come to pass.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us